My Genealogy Hound

John A. Neill. Among the many successful and enterprising citizens of Washington County stands the name of John A. Neill, who was born in Morgan County, Ill., September 14, 1827, and is the son of Alexander and Martha (Wilson) Neill, both of whom were natives of Logan County, Ky., born in 1802 and August 9, 1807, respectively. The father attained his growth in his native State, was married there, and about 1825 moved to Morgan County, Ill., where he resided until 1832, after which he moved to Northwest Arkansas, and in the spring of the following year moved to a place one mile north of Goshen. Here he remained until October, 1886, when he moved to the home of his son, John A. Neill, and remained with him until August 14, 1888, when he received his final summons. He had tilled the soil all his life, had been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church since about 1843, and was one of the most highly respected citizens of this part of the county. The mother died at the residence of her son, John A. Neill, September 13, 1884. She was also a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They had a family of six sons and four daughters, one son and four daughters now living. The six sons served in the Confederate army, and but one, our subject, returned alive. The latter was reared in the country, and, like the majority of farmer boys, passed his time in cultivating the soil. At the age of twenty-three he left home, and March 28, 1852, married Miss Nancy Sherrod, a native of Tennessee, born January 29, 1830, and a daughter of William Sherrod, who was a Methodist preacher and an early settler of Washington County. Mr. and Mrs. Neill became the parents of eight children, seven now living: Electa P., born March 17, 1854; George M., born January 19, 1856; William A., born March 11, 1858; Thomas J., born June 23, 1860; John F. born February 11, 1863, and died February 22, 1863; Martha L. and Stonewall J. (twins), born May 29, 1867, and Charlotte J., born April 21, 1870. After marriage Mr. Neill followed farming, two and a half miles east of where he now resides, until the fall of 1856, when he went to Texas, and followed the same occupation in that State, together with the carpenter trade, but was routed by the Indians in 1866. He then moved to Arkansas, and settled on his present property, where he has since lived, and where he still continues farming. He has 179 acres, seventy-five under cultivation and well improved. Mr. Neill, his wife and all but one of the family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Mr. Neill is a F. & A. M., W. M. of Goshen Lodge No. 413, H. P. of Hinesville Chapter No. 81, and a member of Hinesville Council U. D. In politics he has always been a Democrat. He is a moral, upright citizen, and bears the highest regards of his fellow men.